Indirect-lighting fixture



Dec; 7 1926. 1, 09,379

. I C.E.FRREE INDIRECT LIGHTJ ING FIXTURE Filed Dec. 9, 1924 HVVENTDR.

ATTORNEYL Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES CLARENCE ERROL FERREE, OF BRYN MAWR, PENNSYLVANIA.

INDIRECT-LIGHTING FIXTURE.

Application filed December 9, 1924. Serial No. 754,709.

My invention relates to lighting fixtures, more particularly fixtures of the indirect lighting type, and it has for its general object to provide' an indirect lighting fixture of novel construction comprising means whereby the efficiency of illumination is substantially increased.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a lighting fixture of the indirect type in which means is provided not only for shielding the source of light from the eyes of a person in a room in which the light is located but also with means for breaking up the shadow images of the filament of an incandescent electric light and for giving an even and diffuse illumination of the ceiling of a room or other reflecting surface against which the light may be directed and also an even and diffuse illumination of the bowl shaped member when it is made of translucent material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction which not only is eificient in character but which is simple and which,

therefore, may be constructed at a minimum cost.

To these and other ends the invention comprehends the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described in detail, particularly pointed out in the claims and as illustrated in the drawing in which I have shown one form of embodiment of the same. However, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms of construction than that shown and that changes in the details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the principle of the said invention.

In the drawing:

Fiat. 1 is a view in vertical sectional elevatior of a fixture embodying my invention; an

Fig. 2 is a view showing a modified construction of the bulb in which the electric light filament is inclosed.

Referring to the drawing: 1 designates a shade or shield either of opaque or translucent material which may be described broadly as of bowl-shape. It is, however, provided at its central region with an outwardly or downwardly projecting portion 2 which is concavo-convex in cross section. The

upper or interiorsurface of the bowl-shaped shade or shield 1, when made of opaque material. should be of a dull shade or color. The shield or shade is supported by chains 3 (or other suitable means) only two of which are shown. These chains are connected at their lower ends to the outer edge portion of the shield or shade 1 and at their upper ends to the ceiling 4 of a room or other structure. The point of connection to the ceiling is shielded by the member 5 in known manner. The socket 10 for receiving an electric light bulb 11 is supported upon the lower end of a chain or other suitable support 12. The electric light bulb 11, which may consist of glass or other suitable equivalent material, is adapted to be detachably secured to the socket 10 in known manner.

The'lower or outer end portion of the bulb 11 is provided with a coating 15 of silver or other suitable metal. This coating is secured in any known manner to the outer convex surface of the lower or outer end portion of the bulb 11. The inner surface of the metal coating in contact with the outer surface of the lower end portion of the bulb 11 is very smooth and reflects with great efliciency the light rays from the electric lighting filament 17 located within the bulb'll. Another reaj son for this is that the reflecting surface is secured directly to and against the outer surface of the bulb so that it is completely protected and shielded from dirt and dust which otherwise would accumulate thereon and impair the efficiency of said surface as a refleeting medium. The upper edge of the coating 15 is located in a plane which extends at right angles to the axis of the length of the bulb slightly above the filament 17 which constitutes the source of light. In the I construction as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing the portion of the bulb 11 above the upper edge of the coating 15 is smooth and transparent and in order to break up or diffuse the light rays which emanateupwardly either directly from the filament 17 or from the inner reflecting surface of the coating 15 I have provided an inclosing shield 20 of translucent material. Instead of the shield being of translucent material it may consist of transparent material and a surface thereof, either the outer or innersurface, may be lightly etched or otherwise treated so as to sures an even and diffuse illumination of said bowl-shaped member when it. is made of translucent material. The shield may or may not be tinted blue to correct the light to daylight color.

It will be observed that the upper end portion of the diffusing shield 20 is of relatively small diameter and that it is provided with means 21 by which it is suspended from the upper end of the socket 10. The walls of the shield 20 diverge from the upper end thereof downwardly so that a flaring structure is formed. The lower edge thereof occupies a plane a short distance below the plane of the upper edge of the coating 15 as is clearly apparent in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a construction in which the portion of the bulb 11 above the upper edge of the coating 15 is lightly etched, as is clearly indicated at 25, or otherwise treated so that the upper" portion of the bulb itself becomes the diffusing means for the light which impinges thereupon whether it radiates directly from the light source or from the reflectingsurface of the coating 15. It will be noted that in this construction the electric light filament 17 is located in a plane a short distance below the upper edge of the coating 15. If a bulb of: the character of that disclosed in Fig. 2 be employed in the construction of the fixture, as shown in Fig. 1, the shield 20 may be omitted. The etching or frosting. of the portion of the bulb. 11 above the upper edge of the metal coating 15 functions in the same manner as the shield 20 of translucent material, or transparent material the surface of which has been etched or frosted.

In either form of construction a fixture is provided in which a maximum proportion of the light from the light source 17 is projected upwardly into the upper portion of a room in such a manner as to give a maximum of lighting efficiency from the energy expended.

It will also be seen that I have provided a construction in which all of the rays of light which meet the eye of a person in a room proceed indirectly from the light source and that the light from the source of illumination can only reach the eye after having passed through a diffusing medium.-

Having thus described my invention, what I'claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. An indirect lighting fixture comprising a bowl-shaped member of opaque material,

the interior surface of which is of a dull shade, an electric light filament, a bulb within which the said filament is located, the

outer surface of the lower end portion of the said bulb being provided with a metal coatbulb inclosing the same, and diffusing means through which the rays of light from the 7 said electric light filament are compelled to pass, the lower edge of said diffusing means being locatedin a plane which is at least as low as the plane of the upper edge of the said metal coating.

2. A lighting fixture comprising a bowlshaped member having a downwardly extending hollow projection at its central region, an electric light bulb, means for supporting said bulb with its lower end ortion projectin into the said hollow pro ection, an electric light filament within the said bulb, a metal coating uponthe outer surface of the lower end portion of the said bulb, the upper edge of said coating being located in a plane above that in which the said filament is located, and a light diffusing shield surrounding the said bulb, the lower edge of which is located in a plane slightly below that of the plane in which the upper edge of the said metal coating is located.

3. A lighting fixture comprising a bowlshaped member, means for supporting the same. an electric light bulb comprising an electric light filament located therein, means for supporting the said bulb with its lower end portion projecting into the said bowlshaped member, a metal coating upon the outer surface of the lower end portion of the said bulb, the upper-edge of said coating 00- cupying a plane above that in which the said electric light filament is located, and a shield of translucent material surrounding the said bulb, the lower edge of which is located in a plane a short distance below the plane of the upper edge of the said metal coating.

4. An indirect lighting fixture comprising a bowl-shape shade having a downwardly extending hollow projection at its central reon, an electric light bulb provided with a ament which is adapted to be rendered incandescent and also provided upon the outer surface of its lower end portion with a light reflecting coatin the upper edge of whlch extends a short distance above the said filament, the said lower end portion projecting into the said hollow projection, and a light diffusing means through which the rays which extend upwardly from said filament pass, substantially as described.

5. In an indirect lighting fixture, a bowlshapedmember, an electric light bulb supported in said member, the lower end portion of which is provided with a light refleeting coating upon its outer surface in coating, the light from said filament being transmitted through said shield.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 10 my invention I have hereunto signed my name this 19th day of November, 1924.

CLARENCE ERROL FERREE. 

